Artists ask residents how have Preston's surroundings changed?

Members of the public are being invited to share their views about changes to the edges of Preston for a new exhibition.

Artists Ruth Levene and Ian Nesbitt want your opinions, pictures and memorabilia about how life at the very edges of the borough and in its surrounding villages is different than before.

The Sheffield based artists will be staging a community exhibition on the subject in the week beginning May 14 as part of a UCLAN curated project.

Ian said: “The thing we’re really focused on is how to create space for the voice of the community rather than the voice of the developer or the council - and how to do it imaginatively rather than bureaucratically.”

The duo have already walked the entire boundary of Preston borough focusing on how life there and nearby has changed in the past or is altering now.

They also organised a coach tour for members of the public round round sites including the holy well at the shrine at Ladyewell, the proposed fracking site at Roseacre and new building work at Cottam.

The final exhibition is likely to include drawings, paintings, objects, artefacts, newspaper cuttings, voice recordings and interviews.

In a joint plea Ruth and Ian said: “Submissions should record in some way parts of the local environment that are changing. It could be a view from a window that will soon change, a bird species not seen any more, a road that was built in your lifetime, some facts about a local neighbourhood, or the wider Preston area. It doesn’t have to be big or ‘important’, neither does it have to be ‘a fantastic work of art’. The more diverse the better, so don’t be shy!”

Ian and Ruth will be at Preston’s covered market on April 26 from 9am to 3pm and at the Harris Museum and art gallery cafe on Saturday May 5 from 10am - 4pm and will be delighted to welcome information and submissions or talk about their project. A description of up to 50 words about what is being submitted and why is also requested.

If you want to bring something which you fear is too large for the exhibition you can email them at info@iannesbitt.co.uk or info.ruthlevene@gmail.com

• Ian and Ruth were commissioned as part of a wider project, entitled The Connected City, which is curated by In Certain Places, a UCLAN based programme of artistic interventions and events with a remit to explore new approaches to art, culture and urban development and how artists can contribute “to the form and functions of a place”. The programme focuses on areas involved in the multi million pound City Deal scheme which is bringing new infrastructure, jobs and housing to the city.

The areas Ian and Ruth are interested in on the edge of Preston include Cottam and Inskip up to Beacon Fell, out to Chipping, Goosnargh, Brockholes, Walton le Dale and along the River Ribble.

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